Workshop lift - recommendations?

RodTungsten

RodTungsten

Member
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586
Well my colleague and I talked again yesterday about installing a lift in the workshop. Put this off as I thought that I would be selling up but we now work sporadic ‘gentleman’s hours’ and with a few classics between us a lift would be useful - fed up with working on my knees……

Four post preferred - what can you say?
 
2b1ask1

2b1ask1

Special case
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20,282
I have a 2-post and as Zep says, you can do most things on them. Whatever you do though , don't compromise your wellbeing by buying Chinese, many are disguised to look German, even having German importers, claiming to have the factories there so dig carefully.

If you want to scare yourself, take a look at the HSE website regarding post lifts and other garage equipment.

Phil (in France) did a lot of looking before settling on his ones, included in his purchase were huge spreader plates for the 2-post even though he knew the floor was good under them!

I made the choice to go for one after the 4200 fell off an axle stand and pinned me against a cabinet in the garage one afternoon. Nobody about to help, fortunately I was not hurt and able to wiggle like a fish and get myself free! Never again...

Mine is a Naussbaum, genuinely German but was second hand, 3-phase and took a lot of work to get working. With hindsight I'd have bought new, OK the price of a small hatchback but what value life?
 
philw696

philw696

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25,530
I cannot recommend enough the ones I have and how good their customer support is Twinbusch are excellent and yes I opted for the plates as most of the time I'm on my own and I didn't want Ms French finding me broken.
If you have the space get more than one as I find having the Scissor lift great for many things especially detailing and the two post for everything else.
 
RodTungsten

RodTungsten

Member
Messages
586
OK, so two-post and I would need to add plates for presence of mind as often single working. if I go that route We will use mild steel plates to brace. Phil - recommended thickness and area and did you add fillets from plate to post?

The Twinbusch look ideal - perhaps with the top brace for tidiness below and some specific adapters for the arms to lock on to chassis etc?

How about storing another underneath - with drip catching?
 
philw696

philw696

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25,530
As my workshop didn't have a concrete floor it was just earth I contacted them here in France to get their specifications for my installations for the two lifts and then used a professional contractor to do the floor.
I then installed the lifts myself using my engine crane to get things in position.
My local electrician did the 3 phase connections as he had completely re wired the building.
I always have a vehicle on the safety locks so parking one underneath isn't a problem.
The only place we didn't do that was in New Zealand due to Earthquake risks.
The steel plates well worth the money and cheap insurance in my opinions.
My insurance company are more than happy with what I have done here.
 
bigbadwedge400

bigbadwedge400

Member
Messages
117
I have an Automotech four post ramp and I'm very pleased with it. Had it for almost 2 years. I ended up going for the four post as a lot of the time I park the cars on it.

I ended up, because of the size of the space I was fitting it into, getting the short one which has a bed length of 3.2 M. The advantage being that the front and back of the car over hang so access is much better to these parts of the car. The disadvantage is the GTs is too long to go on it!

107784
107785
107786
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,639
We have 8 Automotech 2 post lifts and are brilliant. Full access to the underside and locks so you can park cars underneath for as long as you want. The footprint is small you just have to make sure you have sufficient deapth of concrete under each post. We went belt and braces with a cubic meter of hi fibre content concrete under each.
 
Gazcw

Gazcw

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7,791
RodTungsten said:
Well my colleague and I talked again yesterday about installing a lift in the workshop. Put this off as I thought that I would be selling up but we now work sporadic ‘gentleman’s hours’ and with a few classics between us a lift would be useful - fed up with working on my knees……

Four post preferred - what can you say?
Click to expand...
Not sure if Jay P is still around but he worked/was part of:

https://www.garageequipmentonline.c...fAmpKoCPw7QmJxAutkH0JGZvCNHwT9yxoChokQAvD_BwE
 
conaero

conaero

Forum Owner
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34,639
Sam McGoo said:
Can I ask what paint/resin you used?
And how is it holding up?
Click to expand...
We used about 50L of garage floor paint off eBay. The immediate results were amazing. After 6 months of hard abuse it started to tear up. We got quotes for Epoxy of £20k! We ended up buying the paint ourselves and doing it ourselves in conjunction with our ground worker who did the ramp pads. Cost us £3k and appears bomb proof so far.

The only negative is that it’s shinny. Get fluid on it and Saturday Night Fever moves are often seen on the dance floor. We are hoping it will scuff up a bit
 
RodTungsten

RodTungsten

Member
Messages
586
Not sure our landlord would be keen on us digging a couple of graves in the floor so if we go 2-post then I will get some 10mm 1000x400mm MS plate laser cut for post base holes etc as belt and braces.

Just interested how simple to locate arms somewhere suitable on a range of targets.

We painted the floor with some grey stuff 4 years ago (will report on brand when back) that has held up well against vehicle mess and CNC coolant. A problem in my old garage was condensation on the paint when wet after a cold spell. We don’t see that at all in this current place.
 
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